In the present study, we investigated and compared the spatial variation in soft-bottom macrozoobenthic assemblages and associated sediments in three coastal lagoons colonized by mixed serpulid reefs of Ficopomatus enigmaticus and Hydroides dianthus, differing in extension, density, and confinement condition. We hypothesized that the effect of serpulid reefs on the benthic assemblages varies among lagoons, and that the pattern of spatial variation in the benthic assemblages at two distances (

Context-dependent effect of serpulid reefs on the variability of soft-bottom macrobenthic assemblages in three Mediterranean lagoons (Sardinia, Italy)


 This systematic review analysed scientific publications to identify relevant research about the impact of alien polychaete species around the world, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) guide. The criterion for inclusion was studies published in English, with the key terms (e.g. ‘impact’, ‘alien species’, ‘polychaetes’) in the title, abstract and keywords. The literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science from April to December 2020. The search resulted in 150 papers that included information about impact of alien polychaete species. Of these studies, 98% were published in the last 25 years, reporting on the impact of 40 species in 18 regions of the world. Sixty-one per cent of the research was conducted in the Baltic Sea, South-west Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The most frequent type of study was field surveys (46%) and the most studied system was open coast areas (36%). The species with the highest number of publications about their impacts were Ficopomatus enigmaticus, Marenzelleria viridis, Sabella spallanzanii and Boccardia proboscidea. Based on evidence of their most severe documented impacts in their introduced ranges, the impact mechanisms (IMos) of the alien polychaete species were strongly related to their biology and lifestyles. We found that species that build conspicuous reefs and tube-dwellers mainly showed physical and structural impact on ecosystems; shell-borers, mainly parasitism and infauna species, showed mainly chemical, physical and structural impacts on ecosystems. Some recommendations for the study of alien polychaete species are discussed.

Impacts of alien polychaete species in marine ecosystems: a systematic review

The macrofaunal assemblages of a soft-bottom intertidal area invaded by the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) were studied at the site where reef formation was first reported for the Atlantic coast of South America (Los Pocitos; 40° 25′ 59.5″ S, 62° 25’ 23.2” W). Seasonal random sampling (winter, spring and summer) was conducted on oyster reefs and the nearby bare sediment and cordgrass areas. The habitat showed different structures with a wide size range of available spaces for macrofaunal colonization. Fifty-three macrofaunal species were recorded. Thirty-five percent of them were native, 3% were cryptogenic, 5% were exotic, and 54% need further taxonomic determination. All of the exotic species were found in reefs; though the amphipod Monocorophium insidiosum (Crawford, 1937) also settled on soft and cordgrass sediments. Species assemblages changed across seasons. Diversity was higher in reefs than in cordgrass or bare sediments during the warm season. There were no differences in the proportion of trophic groups. Our results suggest that C. gigas restructures the macrofaunal species assemblages and that this effect is driven by seasonality. In Los Pocitos, oyster reefs currently show a primary role as a suitable habitat for many species, but the net impacts of the invasion of this ecosystem engineer, including the cascading effects on the food web or the facilitation of further invasions remain unclear. The mechanisms and net effects of this restructuring force need further attention. 

Macrofaunal assemblages structure three decades after the first report of the invasive Crassostrea gigas reefs in a soft-intertidal of Argentina

Understanding reproductive traits of invasive species and their modulation by different invaded habitats is crucial for monitoring invasive processes. The invasive ecosystem engineers (IEE) affect their habitat structure, generating cascading effects that may modulate their own or other species’ reproductive traits. In this study, we aim to evaluate the reproductive activity of a nonindigenous species (NIS), the amphipod Melita palmata, in a SW Atlantic coastal lagoon whose habitat structure has been modified by the IEE (reef builder) Ficopomatus enigmaticus. Experiments showed that: (1) the frequency of M. palmata mate pairings (reproductive rate) is higher in reefs built by the IEE than in the facies formed by sediment and valves in reef-free areas (namely sediment); (2) the ratio of mate pairings relative to receptive available females (mate access ratio) is higher in sediment; (3) higher density of M. palmata increases its reproductive rate in both habitats, and (4) lower M. palmata density and reduced habitat structure enhance the mate access ratio. Results suggest that M. palmata reproduction is either density- or habitat-dependent at higher or lower population densities, respectively. This reproductive plasticity might contribute to the permanence of NIS in new systems, the recognition of new habitats, and counteract potential reproductive isolation.

Reproductive traits of a nonindigenous amphipod associated with alternative habitat structures in presence of an invasive ecosystem-engineering polychaete

This systematic review analysed scientific publications to identify relevant research about the impact of alien polychaete species around the world, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) guide. The criterion for inclusion was studies published in English, with the key terms (e.g. ‘impact’, ‘alien species’, ‘polychaetes’) in the title, abstract and keywords. The literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science from April to December 2020. The search resulted in 150 papers that included information about impact of alien polychaete species. Of these studies, 98% were published in the last 25 years, reporting on the impact of 40 species in 18 regions of the world. Sixty-one per cent of the research was conducted in the Baltic Sea, South-west Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The most frequent type of study was field surveys (46%) and the most studied system was open coast areas (36%). The species with the highest number of publications about their impacts were Ficopomatus enigmaticus,Marenzelleria viridis, Sabella spallanzanii and Boccardia proboscidea. Based on evidence of their most severe documented impacts in their introduced ranges, the impact mechanisms (IMos) of the alien polychaete species were strongly related to their biology and lifestyles. We found that species that build conspicuous reefs and tube-dwellers mainly showed physical and structural impact on ecosystems; shell-borers, mainly parasitism and infauna species, showed mainly chemical, physical and structural impacts on ecosystems. Some recommendations for the study of alien polychaete species are discussed.

S0025315422000315jrv 3..26

Invasive ecosystem engineers change habitat attributes and species abundance, affecting the structure of invaded communities. In the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37° 40′S, 57° 23°W), the invasive reef-building polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Fauvel, 1823) generates a heterogeneous environment with habitats of variable complexity: the reefs themselves (high complexity), the sediment surrounding the reefs (low complexity), and the substrate from the areas without reefs (intermediate complexity). Our objective was to compare the macrofaunal assemblages along the whole complexity gradient. We hypothesized that individuals' abundance, diversity, species richness, and evenness of the macrofaunal assemblages increase with habitat complexity, since more complex habitats may represent greater availability of suitable spaces. The composition of the species assemblage was compared through monthly field samplings in each of the three habitats. Results showed that individuals' abundance increased with habitat complexity. In addition, amphipods were the most abundant group in the reefs, while ostracods were the most abundant group in the sediment surrounding the reefs and that from reef-free areas. However, community parameters were occasionally similar between the reefs and the sediment from reef-free areas, depending on the month considered. Our study suggests that the invasion of F. enigmaticus changed the macrofaunal assemblages and the individuals' abundances by providing a high complexity substrate, but also, and less predictably, by increasing habitat heterogeneity, highlighting the importance of including both dimensions of habitat structure in the study of invasions by ecosystem engineers.

Influence of complexity and habitat heterogeneity on macrofaunal assemblages provided by an invasive ecosystem engineer in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon

Handle everyday research tasks with reliable, citation-backed results

Your personal Research Agent to handle research tasks with citation-backed results

Popular Tasks used by Researchers

How can I help with your research?

Meet SciSpace

Get more enhanced response by uploading the PDFs you want me to reference.

No relevant PDFs in your library

SciSpace is the AI research assistant for academics. Run systematic literature reviews on 280M+ papers, and write papers with cited sources. Trusted by 1M+ students, PhDs & researchers.

SciSpace | AI for Research

Analyze PDFs

Code & Manuscripts

Funding & Grants

Literature & Patents

Medical & Clinical Data

Systematic Review

Visualize & Present

Web & Data

Build a Google Scholar-like website for your research.

Build a website

Create charts and images for your research

Create a Chart

Write a paper for submission to a journal

Draft a manuscript

Patent Search

Design eye-catching scientific posters in minutes.

Scientific Poster Generation

Systematic Literature Review

One task is running at the moment. Your messages will be shown right after.

Drag and drop or click here to browse

Loved by <highlight>1 million+</highlight> researchers

Extract a list of specific topics and their sources from unstructured text

Topics

Compare and analyze relevant papers that matches with your search

Papers

Get insights from PDFs and bookmarked papers from your library

My library

Recent searches

Try searching for:

Catch AI-generated content in scholarly and non-scholarly content

{ai} Detector

Ai Writer

Get PDF Summaries, highlighted text explanations 

Chat with PDF

Effortlessly create in-text citations and bibliographies in APA and 2,500 other formats

Citation generator

Get explanations, summaries, and answers on academic papers

Ease up your research workflow with {scispace}'s cohort of exciting AI tools

Elevate your academic writing skills and convey your ideas the way you want

Paraphraser

Explore our range of reading and writing tools

Your file is being prepared and should be ready in a few minutes. If it's a large file, it might take a bit longer. You can close this window, and we'll email you the file when it's done.

You have reached a maximum limit of <strong>{limit}</strong> columns in the table. Remove at least <strong>1</strong> column to add or create another one.

Lorena E. Martinez

Author Tools

Chat about Author

Papers

Influence of complexity and habitat heterogeneity on macrofaunal assemblages provided by an invasive ecosystem engineer in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon